Tales From Shakespeare (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Kadir Nelson (Author), David Shannon (Author), Barry Moser (Author), Leo Dillo (Author), Diane Dillo (Author), Chelsey McLauren (Author), Mary Grandpre (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Tina Packer, President and Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company theater and theater education group, brings ten of Shakespeare's most popular works to (abbreviated) life in this big, gorgeous hardcover volume. She retells the plays in a coherent style, incorporating paraphrases of some of the better-known lines for authentic flavor: "Is this a dagger which I see before me…" (Macbeth); "Ingratitude, more hideous in a child than in the sea monster…" (King Lear). Each of the ten tragedies and comedies is magnificently illustrated (one illustration per play) by an award-winning artist, including Mary GrandPre, Leo and Diane Dillon, Kadir Nelson , Chesley McLaren , and others. A lengthy and interesting introduction provides useful context for readers new to the Elizabethan world of Shakespeare.

Ideally, this book will serve as a lush introduction to the Bard for children who will go on to read--and better understand--the classic plays in their entirety. It sure beats Cliffs Notes. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Mix the intricacies of Shakespeare's plots and his poetic language with illustrations by award-winning artists and the result is a treasure trove of well-told tales. In these adaptations, Packer captures the essence of the playwright's words and ideas, placing them in concise and clearly told stories. A nine-page introductory essay presents basic biographical facts. The tales-five each of the Bard's best-known comedies and tragedies-begin with a short introduction to explain the basic thesis of the play, followed by a list of "Main Players," and a skillful 13- to 15-page prose retelling. The narrative consists mostly of short, declarative sentences that cut right to the heart of the plot, but the interweaving of numerous pertinent lines of dialogue helps to keep the poetic flavor of the original. Each retelling is accompanied by a full-page opening illustration, and a small detailed painting highlights the conclusion. The styles vary from Barry Moser's foreboding black-and-white scratchboard portrait of Macbeth to Barbara McClintock's detailed view of the Forest of Arden to P. J. Lynch's impressionistic watercolor rendering of the ghost of King Hamlet. The quality is always excellent. Each illustrator sets the appropriate tone for and conveys the mood of the tale, and the breadth of artistic interpretations gives the book appeal to a wide audience. These versions are fuller and the choice of vocabulary more suited to American audiences than that found in E. Nesbit's The Best of Shakespeare (Oxford, 1999). This handsome volume will provide youngsters with a clear understanding of the basis of the plays before they approach the original scripts.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439321077
• ISBN-13: 978-0439321075
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #291,320 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #19 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Moser, Barry
  #44 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Shannon, David
  #49 in	Books > Children's Books > Series > Classics > Scholastic Classics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Interpretaion for kids., April 21, 2005

By	Delirium "Star" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

I was happy that there is something available for kids that would introduce them to Shakespeare. However, I still had to use my own words even for narrative. You really can't do much about Shakespeare's words and you would not want to, but the narrative and other explanations should have been made easier to read. They read more like narratives for operas with "dote", "sprite", "vowed", "disdainful", "enarmored", "braying", "loathsome" etc all over the place.

My kids are under 10 and I was hoping that with my help they will enjoy the book. They did, but I had to really work on it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tales from Shakespeare, September 15, 2005

By	Vicki L. Plant (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Absolutely beautiful! Stunning illustrations and accessible retellings of Shakespeare's most beloved plays. An excellent early introduction for children and a wonderful edition for anyone who cherishes Shakespeare.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it so much I bought it twice, May 10, 2009

By	J. L. Wright "B4 All" (NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I originally purchased this as paperback, read through it and fell in love. Then I misplaced it. I was so upset that I bought this hard cover version. The illustrations are reason enough, not to mention the simplified information on Shakespeare's works. When I found my paperback copy, I gave it to a friend who had borrowed it and loved it as much as I did. This is a wonderful introduction into the world of Shakespeare's plays, by explaining his plots and stories in a contemporary manner, Ms. Packer has truly taken the Fear out of comprehending Shakespeare.